filter needed?

[Landon21]

Im breeding my plakat pair in a four inch shallow setup. the heat and water chemistry is under control as well and the heavy planting but my question is; is filtration this early a must?

[Smr2892]

No filter is needed. When the fry are old enough you may want to consider a sponge filter. But for now, it's not needed. Water changes once the fry are free swimming is a must, though! Some people wait till the fry are two weeks old, others start as soon as they're able to swim.

[Landon21]

Ok so how do i keep the water clean in the aquarium with out disturbing the nest and fry?

[indjo]

Basically you don't - not the first few days anyway. Besides, I have found that a bit of "natural" (not from fish/food waste) dirt/gunk means micro critters for newly hatched fry. Once we begin to feed and fish wastes + uneaten food begins to build up, that's when cleaning is necessary.

[HD4life]

I use a turkey Baseter to suck up gunk that settles on the bottom while the eggs are in the nest, it helps a lot even after the fry are free swimming, the suction isn't near as strong as siphoning so even young fry can swim away. I usually do not do water changes til 2 weeks old but instead, add a gallon of water (same temp and conditioned) through a drip line every few days after they are free swimming and then turn on the filter.

[copperarabian]

I read that when the fry are developing the leviathan organ they need a filter to break up anything that forms on the surface, is that true? or can you just move the surface around every once in a while.

[HD4life]

As far as I know it's more about warm humid air above the water to help the labyrinth develop properly. Also if you have a full hood or cover the tank with plastic wrap and you shouldn't get any film on the water.

[dramaqueen]

I think the warm, humid air helps to keep the nest from dissolving.